The Herbert Protocol

What is the Herbert Protocol?

Nothing is more worrying or distressing than when a loved one or friend goes missing or doesn’t return home when expected.

For people living with or caring for someone with Dementia, this may be quite common. The Herbert Protocol is a national scheme adopted by Humberside Police and other police services across the country.

The basis of the scheme is for vital information about the person such as medication, description, photograph, significant places in the person’s life and their daily routine, to be recorded on a form.

The form should then be stored safely – either in electronic format on a computer, or a printed version. It may need to be located quickly, at any time of day or night, by the person who needs the information to begin the initial searches.

When the form is complete, it will contain confidential information about a person so it should be stored securely. Any partner agency required to complete the form will become the data controllers and must store it appropriately.

The form can be downloaded or printed from the Humberside Police website at www.humberside.police.uk/issues/vulnerability or pick one up from your local police station.

The police will only ask for the form, or the information in the form, if the person is reported missing. The information will help the police and other agencies locate the missing person as quickly as possible and return them to safety.